meet our team

Sunova Board of Directors

In a nutshell, our board represents you. Together, they work to provide guidance by approving policies, monitoring organizational results, and by attending monthly board meetings and planning sessions. Our board is committed to the highest standards of corporate governance and our policies reflect that commitment.

Learn about our board members below:

Kevin Beresford
Director since: 2008
Term expires: 2020

Kevin is the current Sunova Board of Directors Chair and is serving his fourth term on the board. Kevin was the CEO for the Interlake Eastern Regional Health Authority for 13 years and is currently working with Manitoba Health. Kevin aims to actively contribute to strong governance that benefits Sunova members.

Justin EvendenDirector since: 2013
Term expires: 2019

Justin Evenden is serving his second term on the Sunova Board of Directors. He has a business degree from the Asper School of Business, where he majored in International Business. Justin is a Marketing Associate at the Manitoba HVDC Research Centre. He enjoys training for triathlons and is a proud father to son Oliver.

Chris Kinghorn
Director since: 2014
Term expires: 2020

Chris Kinghorn is serving his second term on the Sunova Board of Directors. He is the Regional Vice President, Ontario Region for NAPA Auto Parts. Chris is a member of the Automotive Industries Association.

Raquel Lincoln

Director since: 2018

Term expires: 2021

Raquel Lincoln joined Sunova’s Board of Directors in 2018. In addition to being a long time member of Sunova, Raquel has been quite active in her community. She initiated the North Whiteshell TransCanada Trail in 1999, serves as the co-vice chair of the Air Cadet League of Manitoba’s Board of Directors, and has won two Travel Manitoba Tourism Awards. She hopes to serve Sunova members with passion, enthusiasm, and dedication.

Lesli MalegusDirector since: 2009
Term expires: 2021

Lesli Malegus joined the Sunova Board of Directors in 2009 and has served three terms. She is the owner of Marlin Travel in Selkirk and can help you temporarily escape Manitoba with a dream vacation. Lesli is active in her community and is part of the Selkirk Chamber of Commerce, Selkirk Community Foundation, and the Selkirk Rotary Club. In the summer, you may find Lesli enjoying the outdoors fishing, golfing, or camping.

Lindy Norris
Director since: 2017
Term expires: 2020

Lindy Norris joined the Sunova Board of Directors in 2017. She is the Director of Marketing Communications at New Flyer Industries and founder of the Athena Leadership conference. Lindy was featured in Marketing Magazine’s 30 Under 30 Brightest Young Minds in Canada, has received a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, and has contributed to Forbes.com. She is one passionate Manitoban who’s ready to help Sunova excel well into the future.

Kevin Beresford

Director since: 2008

Term expires: 2020

Stonewall

Nick Khinda

Director since: 2019

Term expires: 2022

St. Mary's

Chris Kinghorn

Director since: 2014

Term expires: 2020

Lac du Bonnet

Raquel Lincoln

Director since: 2018

Term expires: 2021

Beausejour

Lesli Malegus

Director since: 2009

Term expires: 2021

Selkirk

Lindy Norris

Director since: 2017

Term expires: 2020

Oakbank

Jeff van Ryssel

Director Since: 2018

Term Expires: 2021

Oakbank

Kevin Beresford

Director since: 2008

Term expires: 2020

Stonewall

Kevin is the current Sunova Board of Directors Chair and is serving his fourth term on the board. Kevin was the CEO for the Interlake Eastern Regional Health Authority for 13 years and is currently working with Manitoba Health. Kevin aims to actively contribute to strong governance that benefits Sunova members.

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Nick Khinda

Director since: 2019

Term expires: 2022

St. Mary's

Nick holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and is currently a successful realtor for Royal LePage, where he was recently awarded the Lifetime Achievement award. In addition, he is a highly committed community volunteer, contributing to organizations such as the Khalsa Diwan Society, Siloam Mission, and Folklorama. He is confident that he can support our board and members for the years to come.

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Chris Kinghorn

Director since: 2014

Term expires: 2020

Lac du Bonnet

Chris Kinghorn is serving his second term on the Sunova Board of Directors. He is the Regional Vice President, Ontario Region for NAPA Auto Parts. Chris is a member of the Automotive Industries Association.

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Raquel Lincoln

Director since: 2018

Term expires: 2021

Beausejour

Raquel Lincoln joined Sunova’s Board of Directors in 2018. In addition to being a long time member of Sunova, Raquel has been quite active in her community. She initiated the North Whiteshell TransCanada Trail in 1999, serves as the co-vice chair of the Air Cadet League of Manitoba’s Board of Directors, and has won two Travel Manitoba Tourism Awards. She hopes to serve Sunova members with passion, enthusiasm, and dedication.

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Lesli Malegus

Director since: 2009

Term expires: 2021

Selkirk

Lesli Malegus joined the Sunova Board of Directors in 2009 and has served three terms. She is the owner of Marlin Travel in Selkirk and can help you temporarily escape Manitoba with a dream vacation. Lesli is active in her community and is part of the Selkirk Chamber of Commerce, Selkirk Community Foundation, and the Selkirk Rotary Club. In the summer, you may find Lesli enjoying the outdoors fishing, golfing, or camping.

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Lindy Norris

Director since: 2017

Term expires: 2020

Oakbank

Lindy Norris joined the Sunova Board of Directors in 2017. She is the Director of Marketing Communications at New Flyer Industries and founder of the Athena Leadership conference. Lindy was featured in Marketing Magazine’s 30 Under 30 Brightest Young Minds in Canada, has received a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, and has contributed to Forbes.com. She is one passionate Manitoban who’s ready to help Sunova excel well into the future.

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Jeff van Ryssel

Director Since: 2018

Term Expires: 2021

Oakbank

Jeff van Ryssel is serving his first term on Sunova’s Board of Directors. He’s no stranger to credit union boards, however. Jeff joined our board after being part of the Oak Bank Credit Union board since 2014 and brings knowledge of the Oakbank area and membership with him to Sunova. Jeff is a graduate of Film School in Vancouver and the University of Manitoba Ag program. How’s that for a diverse background? Jeff is now the fourth generation to own and operate his family’s farm outside of Oakbank! In his downtime, Jeff likes to curl, travel, and take his kids to their various sports.

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Executive leadership team

They may be all smiles but they mean business! Our executive team combines many years of industry experience with an innovative and progressive approach to leading our organization.

Edward Bergen

President + CEO

Curtis Fines

Vice President + Chief Operations Officer

Leanna Beasant

Vice President + Chief Financial Officer

Chad Willis

Vice President + Chief Experience Officer

Greg Rutherford

Vice President + Chief Information Officer

Bev Kiel

Director, Member Administration

Cheryl Mitchell

Director, Facilities + Business Development

Clarence Abrams

Director, Finance

Kerry Hendry

Director, Risk Management

Nichole Menne

Executive Assistant

Paul Olfert

Director, Talent Integration

Vanessa Foster

Director, Creative Strategy

Edward Bergen

President + CEO

Ed has been providing visionary leadership to Sunova since April 1981 as President + CEO. Over the years, he has implemented countless innovative initiatives resulting in above-average growth that, in turn, has catapulted Sunova from near bankruptcy to one of the top 30 largest credit unions in Canada. While many financial institutions are content with conforming to standard banking practices, Ed has built a culture at Sunova that encourages and embraces change, and focuses on providing our members and clients with exceptional and memorable service experiences.

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Curtis Fines

Vice President + Chief Operations Officer

Curtis started his career with Sunova in 1994 as a part-time Member Service Representative in Stonewall. He moved up quickly and just five years after starting as an MSR, he accepted the managing partner position in Lac du Bonnet. In 2011, after managing a few branches, Curtis accepted the Vice President + Chief Operations Officer role, which he continues to work in today.

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Leanna Beasant

Vice President + Chief Financial Officer

Leanna started at Sunova back in 2009 as an Associate. She transferred into the finance department and eventually accepted the position of Controller.

A few years later, Leanna decided to leave Sunova but she didn’t go too far. She stayed in the financial system and spent time at two different credit unions, moving up over the years, before returning in 2018 as our Vice President + Chief Financial Officer.

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Chad Willis

Vice President + Chief Experience Officer

As Vice President + Chief Experience Officer, Chad oversees the lending function for all our branches, the commercial and ag services division, and manages Sunova’s very own Mastercard program. Chad has been providing Sunova with strategic thinking since he joined the team as the managing partner of Stonewall in 2011.

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Greg Rutherford

Vice President + Chief Information Officer

Technology is the way of the future, and Greg is taking Sunova there! He oversees technology upgrades and leads a superstar team to help make sure Sunova is keeping up with (and is sometimes ahead of!) current trends. Greg has been working with Sunova in the IT department since 2004.

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Bev Kiel

Director, Member Administration

Since starting with the organization in 1994, Bev has held a variety of positions and knows the organization inside and out. She started her career with Sunova as an MSR at our Teulon branch and is now responsible for the member administration department, which is committed to facilitate compliance with internal and regulatory policy and procedures. It is this team’s responsibility to support the branches by ensuring documentation (membership, account, and loan) meets compliance requirements.

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Cheryl Mitchell

Director, Facilities + Business Development

Cheryl has worked at Sunova since March 2000. Over her time at Sunova, Cheryl has supervised several branch renovations, upgrades, and the construction of three new branch buildings. Cheryl keeps Sunova’s properties and branches looking great!

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Clarence Abrams

Director, Finance

Throughout his career, Clarence has held various positions in the Manitoba credit union system including seven years as General Manager of a smaller credit union. Clarence joined Sunova in October 2008 as Controller and is now the Director, Finance.

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Kerry Hendry

Director, Risk Management

Kerry has worked in many areas at Sunova since starting with us in April 1998, including branch operations, branch management, retail, commercial / ag lending, and credit adjudication. Kerry has provided amazing guidance and knowledge to Sunova employees over the years and, with over 40 years of banking experience, he is a great asset to our executive team.

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Nichole Menne

Executive Assistant

Nichole has been with Sunova since June 2015 as the Executive Assistant. Nichole provides exceptional organizational and administrative support to the Board of Directors, President + CEO, and the executive management team.

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Paul Olfert

Director, Talent Integration

Paul joined Sunova in September 2009. His plate is full as he provides leadership and direction in recruiting and new employee integration, employee workforce development, benefits including group insurance, compensation and corporate benefit programs, organizational succession planning, and performance management.

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Vanessa Foster

Director, Creative Strategy

Vanessa has been a key part of Sunova and the marketing department since 2001. She led the successful rebrand of the organization in 2008, introduced the world famous D.O.G program, has organized many events, such as the annually sold-out Sunova Golf Classic, and executed many internal and external campaigns. Under Vanessa’s leadership the department has received several industry marketing awards including Best of Show for both the CUES Golden Mirror Awards and MACU Achievement in Marketing Excellence Awards.